Boat Sales Made
Easy
- by: Joel Williams
Selling your boat should be
taken as seriously as buying a boat. Obviously, you want to get
the best price but at the same time you don’t want to overprice
the boat that you are selling. There are several things that you
can do to ensure that you have the best experience in selling
your boat.
First of all, find out the fair market price for the boat. Get
an estimate of what the boat is
worth. You can do this by consulting a boat sales professional
and have the boat appraised. A second option is to consult the
marine blue book value and adjust the price based on the
accessories included, depreciation and the final touches you'll
add to increase buyers appeal. Such items would include,
polished wood, carpet replacements and anything that might
appeal to you if you were the buyer.
Making an estimate on your own will require that you take the
task seriously. Start by finding out the going price for the
boat and then deduct value according to the age and the
condition of the boat. Next, you will add any value according to
the accessories that you have and the condition that they are
in. Minor touch-ups and repairs here and there can go a long way
towards increasing your boats value. Once you have done this you
should be able to come up with a price that is fair to both you
and the potential buyer.
Boat Sales: When to sell
Knowing when to sell your boat is just as important as knowing
how to set the price. Certain times of the year will make a
difference in the amount potential buyers are willing to pay.
For example, trying to sell a boat in the middle of winter is
not a good idea. This is especially true if you live in very
cold regions. People are just not interested in boat sales
during this time of the year. The offers that you do get may
leave you a little disappointed.
However, trying to sell a boat at the beginning of the boating
season will have a completely different effect. This is when
people are out searching for that perfect boat and many of them
will be willing to pay a little more for the boat of their
dreams. This also means that you will need to put less effort
into selling your boat because more people will already be
interested.
Know How to Negotiate a Boat Sale
Knowing how to negotiate a boat sales means having everything in
order. One of the most important things to make sure you have is
all the paperwork ready and available. Put all the important
papers needed for the sale in a nice binder. Add pictures of the
boat that show it in its best light. Make up a flyer that shows
the features and benefit of ownership. Include a breakdown of
insurance, slip fees and other expenses so the potential buyer
understands what is needed to store and maintain the boat. Add
repair statements so the buyer knows how well the boat has been
maintained.
The quickest way to lose a sale is by not knowing where the
title is or not having everything you need to legally sell the
boat. Make the buyer feel he is dealing with someone who knows
boats and can justify the asking price.
You also want to make sure that the boat looks its best. So take
time to clean it up and make it look nice. Make sure the battery
is charged and ready for show. Point out the unique features of
the boat, drawing attention to those areas that show the great
condition the boat is in. You might even go to a boat dealership
and let a professional salesman try to sell you a similar boat.
Use these tips and strategies to sell your own boat.
Basically, you just need to be prepared when a buyer shows up at
your boat sale and everything will fall into place.
About The Author
Joel Williams is an avid boating enthusiast. Starting with a
hand made rowboat at the age of seven he has continued the quest
for bigger, better and nicer boats. Today he enjoys his 30'
Catalina yacht. He constantly looking at ways to upgrade with
minimal cash outlays. He has mastered the technique of boat
sales and regularly helps his friends trade their boats. His
resource filled website is
http://ahoyboater.com.